3 from Bolton badly hurt in bombing, 'genuine, wonderful family'

Wednesday

Apr 17, 2013 at 3:10 PMApr 17, 2013 at 9:05 PM

By Donna Boynton, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

William and Mary Jo White live about as far away from a terrorist attack as you can imagine — in a home on a wooded hill, off of a winding country road, their property lined by a stone wall and marked with a small, Americana-themed number sign.

Mr. White was one of the driving forces in town who worked to have flags hung along Main Street for patriotic holidays.

Yet on Monday, Mr. and Mrs. White were near the finish line of the Boston Marathon with their adult son, Kevin White, and all three were seriously injured in one of two explosions that now mark Patriot's Day 2013.

Word was beginning to make its way around town yesterday that the Whites were among the more than 170 injured — Kevin White with lacerations and Mrs. White, with a broken hand and having to go through at least two surgeries. Mr. White's leg was so shattered in the blast that it had to be amputated above the knee.

Kevin White and his mother were expected to be released from the hospital today, according to a family friend. Mr. White remains hospitalized in stable condition.

The couple's other son, Andrew, flew in from Portland, Ore., and has been caring for his family. “They are just a genuine, wonderful family,” said Benjamin Coutu of Fitchburg, who graduated from Lawrence Academy in Groton with Andrew White in 1992.

“When you think of the typical American family — it is them. They wear red, white and blue sweaters on July 4th. What you see superficially in the landscape of their home is who they really are. Why do they go to the Esplanade on the Fourth of July? Because that is what you do on the Fourth of July. Why did they go to the Marathon on Monday? Because that is what you do on Patriot's Day.”

Mr. Coutu and Andrew White have remained friends since high school, and Mr. Coutu administers a fundraising website established by former classmate and Lawrence Academy alumna Katy Chapdelaine Coburn on youcaring.com. Hours after the explosions, alumnus from the small preparatory school in Groton began to organize on social media. In less than 24 hours, the site had raised $13,000 to assist the family with medical costs.

“These are people who were there to support something that we are all trying to do — have fun and be healthy,” Ms. Chapdelaine Coburn said.

“This is a nice way for people who feel frustrated and scared to feel like they can do something positive .... this is a really small gesture to help. We just want the family to be well.”

Friends, family, neighbors, former classmates and even those as far away as Australia who don't even know the family have contributed to the fund.

The Whites were at the finish line on Monday cheering on runners as they crossed the finish line, in close proximity to one of the devices that exploded.

Mr. Coutu was not watching the marathon on Monday, but turned on the television when friends were texting him about the bombs. As he watched the news, Mr. Coutu thought he saw a familiar face being whisked away in a wheelchair — the face of Kevin White.

He watched the news loop a few more times, growing more certain each time that it was indeed, Kevin White.

He snapped a screen shot of the man with his phone and texted it to his friend, Andrew White, asking if it was his brother, and Andrew White confirmed Mr. Coutu's suspicions.

Mr. Coutu texted Andrew White yesterday morning, and learned that his mother and brother were expected to be released from the hospital in the afternoon.

“Andy's dad is in ICU. Andy was talking with his dad. He asked him if he wanted a hot dog,” Mr. Coutu said. “Maybe later ….”

For information on how to assist the White Family, visit www.youcaring.com.

Contact Donna Boynton at dboynton@telegram.com or follow her on Twitter @DonnaBoyntonTG